Cottonwood Springs

Cottonwood Spring Oasis, one of the best kept secrets in Joshua Tree National Park, is just seven miles from the
southern entrance to the park. The spring, the result of earthquake activity, was used for centuries by the
Cahuilla Indians,
who left bedrock mortars and clay pots, or ollas, in the area.

Gold

Cottonwood Spring was an important water stop for
prospectors, miners,
and teamsters traveling from Mecca to mines in the north. Water
was necessary for gold processing, so a number of gold mills were located here. The remains of an arrastra, a primitive type of gold mill,
can be found near the spring, and concrete ruins mark the sites of two later gold mills in the area.

Cottonwood Spring was first mentioned in a gold mine claim filed in 1875, indicating that the trees are native. Fan palms first appear
around 1920, perhaps growing from seeds deposited by a
bird
or
coyote.

A number of hikes begin at Cottonwood Spring. A short, easy walk down Cottonwood Wash leads past a second
oasis to a dry falls. In wet years, the falls can become a scene of rushing water and red-spotted toads.
Bighorn sheep
often come up the wash for water in the early hours. An old teamster road drops down past the falls to the lower wash. A short
hike leads through palo verde and
desert willow trees
to the remains of
Moorten’s Mill.

The three-mile loop trail to
Mastodon Peak
offers spectacular views, interesting geology, the
Mastodon Mine,
and the
Winona Mill Site.
And, for those looking for a longer hike—eight miles round trip—and the largest stand of
fan palms
in the park, the
Lost Palms Oasis
trail is a sure winner.

Birding

But you don’t have to hike to enjoy Cottonwood Spring. This is one of the best
birding
spots in the park, so bring your binoculars and sit a spell.